The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Impact on American Literature

We have many important works in American Literature that have long been a part of our standard materials in the school curriculum. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is one of the most famous, well written, and controversial works in American Literature. Lionel Trifling and T.S. Elliot were greatly influential in ensuring that Huckleberry Finn would have the academic acknowledgment and support to be admitted into the American classrooms (PBS.org). However, unlike other great works of literature, there has been a long-standing debate about the appropriateness of its contents being taught in our schools and its availability in our libraries. There were many critics who demanded that this work is removed from libraries and schools because of its use of the word ""nigger"" and its stereotypical portraits of blacks as superstitious and unintelligent (King, 2018). I am opposed to this demand because we need to have this conversation at an early age in an environment that foster active learning, discussions, and open-mindedness.

In 1998, a high school district in Arizona was sued by Kathy Monteiro to ban The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, along with A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner from the students required reading materials. She claimed that it creates a hostile environment because it has a derogatory word that is repeatedly used in the novel. The judges declined the ban of the novel but gave the school districts the legal duty to take the responsibility of ensuring that this does not create a racially hostile environment (PBS.org). I agree with the judges decision after all this is not the only required reading material that has offensive words. There are many regional writings in the canon of our American literature in similar tone and themes to this novel. Where indeed do we draw the line of which ones are appropriate and acceptable and which are not? We all have different views, experiences, and degrees of acceptance and/or tolerance. The message about race and slavery in this novel is very important. It is central to the story and should be taught in school. I concur with the courts reasoning, the fact that a student is required to read a book does not mean that those students will accept the views presented in such a book. Furthermore, the Court states that it is important for the student to learn and think critically about offensive ideas to be able to develop their critical thinking skills (crin.org).

As difficult as it is to read this novel for many people especially the African Americans, we need to take into consideration that Mark Twain intended for this novel to be an authentic representation of the treatment, attitude, and mentality of the Southerners and slaves during that time period. Before slavery was abolished in 1865, with the exception of Louisiana, all Southern states by law can legally own slaves. In 1841, Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York was kidnapped and sold to slavery in the South. After he regained his freedom, he wrote about his experiences and one in particular passage stood out, Freeman [the white slave broker] would make us hold up our heads, walk briskly back and forth, while customers would feel of our heads and arms and bodies, turn us about, ask us what we could do, make us open our mouths and show our teeth Sometimes a man or woman was taken back to the small house in the yard, stripped, and inspected more minutely. Scars upon a slaves back were considered evidence of a rebellious or unruly spirit and hurt his sale (crf-usa.org, 2018). This is just one account among many that slaves were treated as personal property to be bought, used, and sold like an object. For slave masters to refer to their slaves as the word nigger was common and unremarkable. It is no wonder that in the novel Hucks vocabulary was littered with the use of the aforementioned word. Hucks use of the word did not seem abusive, malicious, evil, or offensive when taken into the context of the novel. Mark Twains novel is an account of that time. It is not meant to cause psychological damage or to inflict pain. This is a regional writing that documents the regions time period including dialect and the inferior treatments of the slaves.

I would argue that we need this novel to stay in our libraries and schools for the betterment of our society and culture. There are immense values to be gained by reading, learning, discussing, and understanding The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain in our schools in its entirety. Yes, even the use of the word nigger and its stereotypical portraits of blacks as superstitious and unintelligent. There can be no healing without understanding. This work is a glimpsed of our history remarkably captured by Mark Twain. It is a realistic portrayal of the characters during that time. Jim was a slave deprived of human dignity and education, but it did not mean that he was not intelligent. Hucks excessive use of the word nigger was a product of his upbringing and environment. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should continue to be a part of the required reading materials in our school curriculum to teach students to look past the distraction of the negativity and find the deeper meaning and message imparted by two unlikely friends on their journey to seek their freedom and exposed the hypocrisy of the society and in the process the students can gain valuable lessons in critical thinking and race relations.

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